Differential-power-transmitting mechanism.



W. FLEENOR.

DIFFERENTIAL POWER TRANSMITTING MECHANISM.

APPLICATXON FlLED IULYS. I913- RENEWEI) FEB. 28 i916.

.Patcntwl Apr. 4, 1916.

2 S-HEETS SHEH 2.

Witnesses Attorneys W. FLEENOR.

DIFFERENTIAL POWER TRANSMITTING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY\5I I9Ia. RENEWED FEB. 28,1916.

1,178,005. Patented Apr. 4,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Witnesses Inv encor Attorneys UNITED STATES PATENT oFFioE.

WILLIAM FLEENOR, OF DECKERVILLE, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO IWALTER BUNYAN, 0F DECKERVILLE, MICHIGAN.

DIFFERENTIALPOWER-TRANSMITTING MECHANISM.

Application filed'J'ulyE, 1913, Serial No. 777,552.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, VILLIAM FLEENOR, acitizen of the United States, residing at Deckerville, in the chunty ofSanilac and State of Michigan, have invented a new and usefulDilferential-Power-Transmitting Mechanism, of which the following is aspecification.

The present invention appertains to mechanisms for transmitting power,and more particularly to such mechanisms embodying differentials, orwherein the driven members may rotate with difierent velocities or onefaster than the other.

it is the object or the present invention to provide a novel andimproved mechanism of the character indicated which shall be soconstructed and operated that the driving member may be actuated orrotated in either direction to move the driven members therewith, thedriven members being adapted to rotate faster than the driving memberirrespective of the direction in which the driving member is rotated.

This invention contemplates the production of a power transmittingmechanism for motor propelled vehicles, such as traction engines,automobiles, and thelike, the driving element of the mechanism beingeither directly or indirectly connected to the prime mover or motor, andthe driven elements being connected directly or indirectly to therespective traction wheels, in order that when the course or path is.other than in a straight line, the traction wheel toward the outer sidewill be permitted to travel or rotate faster than the inner wheel.

lhe present invention has for a further object to provide a mechanism ofthe char..- acter specified which shall be comparatively simple,substantial, durable, compact and inexpensive in construction, as wellas efficient, practical and simple in operation.

To the above and other ends, which will appear as the descriptionproceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangementofparts and in the details of construction hereinafter described andclaimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment ofthe invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what isclaimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The preferred embodiment of the inven- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

Renewed February 28, 1916. Serial No. 81,057.

tion has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein likereference characters have been employed to denote corresponding parts,and wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of the mechanism, Fig. 2 is asectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an inner sothat the driving element resembles or is in the form of a gear wheel tobe connected either directly or indirectly with the prime mover or motorin a manner which need not be shown or described.

lhe driven elements have been designated by thenumeral 7, the same beingin the form of disks 'of slightly smaller diameter than the disk 5.These driven elements are preferably formed on their outer faces withintegral gears 8 so that the respective driven elements may be connectedeither directly or indirectly with the traction wheels of the vehicle,or with any other parts to be driven, according to the use to which themechanism is put. The driven elements are also; rotatably mounted on theshaft 6, the driving element being interposed or sandwiched between thedriven elements, and the whole being'retained in position on the shaftby means of collars 9 on theshaft exteriorly of the driven elements. Itmay be mentioned at this point, that the member 5 and the members 8 maybe in the form of either gears, sprockets or the like for purpose ofconveniently transmitting the power, both to the driving element andfrom the driven elements.

The cardinal feature of the present invention resides in the operativeconnection between the driving and the driven elements in order that themotion of the driving element may be imparted to the driven elements,and in order that the driven elements may rotate faster than the drivingelement irrespective of the direction in which the driving element isrotated, the same residing in the construction and details as presentlydescribed.

The driving element 5 is provided on each side or face with concentricenlargements or extensions 10, each of the said enlargements beingprovided with a plurality, in this case three, of peripheral or radialprojections 11 spaced equally apart. The configurations of. theprojections 11 of the enlargements 10 are such as may provide shouldersat their ends for the engagement of pawls carried by the driven elementsas hereinbefore described.

Each of the driven elements 7 is provided with an inwardly projectingboss or hub 12 concentric therewith. and a plate 13 is mounted oneach'of the bosses 12 so as to frictionally contact with the inner faceof the corresponding driven element. The plates being mounted on thebosses 12 and frictionally contacting with the inner face of the drivenelements will tend to revolve or rotate with the driven elements unlessotherwise restrained. The plates 13 are of approximate triangularcontour, the corners being blunt. as designated by the numeral 14, so asto provide cams. The particular configurations of the plates 13 willdepend upon the number of projections 11. the plate, in this case beingtriangular to provide a cam 14 for each projection 11. These plates 13are also of such dimensions or proportions that their edges will betangent to a circle of smaller ,diameter than the enlargeinents 10, andin order that the cams 11 may project beyond the projections 11, as willbe apparent by reference to Fig. 4.

The cam plates 13 are connected to turn or rotate in unison by means ofyoke pins .15 terminally engaged through the respective cam plates andworking through arcuate slots 16in the .driving element Thus. thedriving element and the cam plates 14. have a limited swinging movementrelative to each other in order that the cams 1-1 may swing toward oneend or the other of. the respective projections.

A double pawl or dog 17 is pivoted to the inner face of each drivenelement 7, the pawls being V-shaped and being pivoted to the drivenelements at their crotches so as to provide a double rocking pawl tocooperate with each set of projections 11 and cams 14. The pawls 17 areof a width to overlie both the enlargements 11- and the cam plates 13,as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The pawls 17 are pivoted to the drivenelements at such points as to permit the cams 14 to rotate past thepawls, and to permit the respective pawls to swing toward or against theenlargements 10 to engage the projections or shoulders thereof.

The operation of the mechanism is as follows :Let it be supposedthat-the driving element 5 is actuated to rotate counterclockwise asseen in Fig. 4: or in the direction of the arrow. The driven elementsbeing operatively connected to the respective traction wheels willremain passive for an instant, so that the cam plates 13 will be heldback due to the drag, until the driving element 5 has turnedsufficiently so that the corresponding ends of the slots 16 will strikethe yoke pins 15. In this event, the cam plates 13 will be rotated withthe driving element, andthe respective cams 14 will swing the pawls 17clockwise so as to engage the corresponding projections 11. When therespective pawls have thus been engagedwith two of the projections 11,the driven elements will be rotated with the driving element in orderthat the vehicle may be propelled. When the cam plates 13 are thuspositioned, the cams 14 will project over the ends of the projections 11away from the direction of travel or rotation of the driving element,and thus permitting either of the driven elements to rotate or turnfaster than the driving element. for instance. when the vehicleissteered or turned to one side or the other. Thus, when one tractionwheel is rotated faster than the other. the corresponding driven element7 connected thereto will be turned faster than the driving element 5,and the forward pawl. or rather the forward end of the double pawl willride upward on the cams 14 as it approaches them so as to be swung ordirected away from the projections 11. The pawl is therefore preventedfrom engaging the projections 11 or the shoulders formed thereby whenthe corresponding driven element is rotated faster than the drivingclement. and at the same time. the rear pawl or the rear end of thedouble pawl, will be swung toward or against the periphery ofenlargement 10 behind the projections 11. in order that when thevelocityof the driven element decreases, the projection will swingagainst the rear end of the double pawl and carry the driven elementwith it.

Conversely, when the driven element 5 is rotated in the oppositedirection, or clockwise as seen in Fig. 4. the driven elements and thecam plates 13 will'remain passive until the pins 15 engage theother'ends of the slots 16, in which event, the above describedoperation will be resumed, only in the reverse direction.

From the foregoing, taken in connection with the drawings, theadvantages and capabilities of the present device will be appar out tothose versed in the art, and it will be noted that the objects aimed athave been carried out satisfactorily. The present device is not onlyapplicable to motor vehicles, but may be otherwise employed as adifferential pow-er transmitting mechanism to be operated in eitherdirection and to permit the driven elements to each rotate faster thanthe driving element, when necessary.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In apower transmitting mechanism, rotary driven members, a rotary drivingmember therebetween, pawls pivoted to the driven members, the drivingmember having shoulders to be engaged by the pawls when turned in eitherdirection, and cams having a limited swinging movement relative to thedriving member so as to direct the respective pawls away from the shoul-(lei-s when the driven members revolve faster than the driving member.

2. In a power transmitting mechanism, rotary driven members, a rotarydriving member therebetween and having a concentric enlargement on eachside, the enlargements having peripheral projections, pawls pivoted tothe driven members to engage the projections when the drivingmember isturned in either direction, and cams disposed between the driving anddriven members and having a limited swinging movement relative to thedriving member so as to direct the respective pawls away from theprojections when the driven members revolve faster than the drivingmember.

3. In a power transmitting mechanism, rotary driven members, a rotarydriving member therebetween, pawls pivoted to the driven members. thedriving member having shoulders to be engaged by the pawls when turnedin either direction, cams frictionally engaging the driven members, andyoke pins connecting the cams and working through slots in the drivingmember, so that the cams will direct the respective pawls away from theshoulders when the driven members revolve faster than the drivingmember.

4. A power transmitting mechanism, rotary driven members, a rotarydriving member therebetween and having a concentric enlargement on eachside, the enlargements having peripheral projections, pawls pivoted tothe driven members to engage the projections when the driving member isrotated in either direction, cams frictionally engaging the drivenmembers, and yoke pins connecting the cams and working through slots inthe driving member, so that the cams will direct the respective pawlsaway from the projections when the driven members revolve faster thanthe driving member.

5. In a power transmitting mechanism, rotary driven members, a rotarydriving member therebetween, double pawls pivoted to the driven members,the driving member having shoulders to be engaged by the respectivepawls when turned in either direction, and cams having limited swingingmovements relative to the driving member so as to direct the respectivepawlsaway from the shoulders when the driven members revolve faster thanthe driving memberand so as to swing the other pawls toward thecorresponding shoulders.

6. In a power transmitting mechanism, rotary driven members, a rotarydriving member therebetween, double pawls pivoted to the driven members,the driving member having concentric enlargements on its sides and theenlargements having peripheral projections to be engaged by therespective pawls when the driving element is rotated in eitherdirection, and cams disposed between the driving and driven members andhaving limited swinging movements relative to the driving member so asto direct the respective pawls away from the projections when the drivenmembers revolve faster than the driving member, and so as to swing theother pawls toward the enlargements.

7. In a power transmitting mechanism, rotary driven members, a rotarydriving member therebetween, double pawls pivoted to the driven members,the driving member having shoulders to be engaged by the respectivepawls when turned in either direction, cams frictionally'engaging thedriven members, and the yoke pins connecting the cams and workingthrough slots in the driving member, so that the cams will direct therespective pawls away from the shoulders when the driven members revolvefaster than the driving member, and so as to swing the other pawlstoward the corresponding shoulders.

8. In a power transmitting mechanism, rotary driven members, a rotarydriving member therebetween and having a concentric enlargement on eachside. the enlargements having peripheral projections, double pawlspivoted to the driven members to engage the projections when the drivingmember is revolved in either direction, cams frictionally engaging thedriven members,

and yoke pins connecting the cams and working through slots in thedriving member, so that the cams will direct the respective pawls awayfrom the projections when the driven members revolve faster than thedriving member and so as to swing the other pawls toward theenlargements.

9. In a power transmitting mechanism, rotary driven members, a rotarydriving member therebetween and having a concentric enlargement on eachside. each enlargement having a plurality of radial projections, pawlspivoted to the driven members to engage the respective ends of theprojections when the driving member is rotated in either direction. camplates disposed between the driving and driven members, each cam platehaving a plurality of cams cooperating with the respective projections,and yoke pins connecting the cam plates and working through slots in thedriving member.

10. In a power transmitting mechanism, rotary driven members, a rotarydriving member therebetween and having a concentric enlargement on eachside, each enlargement having a plurality of projections, double pawlspivoted to the driven members to engage the respective ends of theprojections when thedriving member is turned in either direction, camplates disposed between the driving and driven members, each cam platehaving a plurality of same cooperating with the respective projections,and yoke pins connecting the cam plates and working through the slots inthe driving member.

11. In a power transmitting mechanism, rotary driven members, a rotarydriving member therebetween, means carried by each driven member forengaging the driving member when the latter is rotated in eitherdirection, and means for throwing each of the said means out ofoperation when the driven members revolve faster than the drivingmember.

12. In a power transmitting mechanism, a shaft, rotary driven membersmounted thereon. a rotary driving member mounted on the shaft betweenthe driven members. the driving member having concentric enlargements onthe sides thereof, each enlargement having a plurality of peripheralprojections, double pawls pivoted to the driven members to engage therespective ends of the projections when the driving; member is turned ineither direction. the

driven members having inwardly projecting bosses, cam plates mounted onthe bosses, each. cam plate having a plurality of cams cooperating withthe respective projections, and yoke pins connecting the cam plates andworking through slots in the driving member. j

13. In a power transmitting mechanism, a rotary driving member, a rotarydriven member, pawls pivoted to one of the said members. the othermember having shoulders to be engaged by the pawls when the drivingmember is rotated in either direc tion, and a cam plate carried by andhaving" limited swinging movements relative to that member having theshoulders, the cam plate cooperating with the shoulders and pawls. torelease the latter when the driven member rotates faster than thedriving member.

1%. In a power transmitting mechanism,

a rotary driving member, a rotary driven member, double pawls pivoted toone of the said members, the other member having shoulders facing inopposite directions to be engaged by the pawls when the driving memberis rotated in either direction, and a am plate frictionally engagingthat member having the pawls, and having limited movements relative tothat member having tlnxslmulders. the cam plate having cams coiipcratingwith the respective shoulders, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own. I have hereto aflixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

IVILLIAM FLEENOR.

Witnesses:

J. (l. Commas, E. A. MILLER.

